Written Answers Tuesday 7 November 2006

Scottish Executive

Air Services

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any economic research or calculations that it has undertaken to determine whether more direct air flights will increase tourism revenue.

Tavish Scott: Overseas visitor numbers to Scotland have risen by 50% in 2001-05, and overseas spend has risen by about 44% in real terms in the same period. This is a strong indication that the increased number of direct flights to Scotland is contributing directly to increased tourism revenues.

  We expect the results of an evaluation of the economic benefits, including tourism benefits, that have been derived from the Route Development Fund to be available in 2007.

Air Services

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any research or calculations that it has undertaken to compare the climate change emissions from non-lifeline UK internal flights supported by the Route Development Fund with the climate emissions associated with alternative transport options.

Tavish Scott: In conjunction with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the other Devolved Administrations, the Scottish Executive is funding the production and publication of the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory which will contain emissions data for domestic civil aviation over the period 1990 to 2004.

  The primary purpose of the Route Development Fund is to ease access to and from Scotland for business and to Scotland for inbound tourists for whom air is the most time-efficient transport mode.

Air Services

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many flights from UK hubs have ceased to operate since November 2002 as a result of new direct flights to and from Scotland.

Tavish Scott: While direct air services from Scotland reduce the need to interline through the UK hub airports, it is not possible to confirm whether or not the cessation of any specific flight from a UK hub is directly or indirectly attributable to the establishment of the RDF.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Riminyl will continue to be available under the NHS in Scotland as a treatment for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Mr Andy Kerr: Galantamine (Reminyl ®) will continue to be recommended for treatment by the NHS of patients who have moderate to moderately severe Alzheimer’s disease.

Arts

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funds are available for Scottish artists, writers and playwrights to promote their work in the United States of America.

Patricia Ferguson: Scottish artists, writers and playwrights who wish to promote their work in the United States of America can apply to the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) for support. The SAC, through its continuing partnership with British Council Scotland, is well placed to provide advice, funding and facilitation services in respect of this activity.

  However, the SAC does not set aside funding on a country-by-country basis, but rather awards funding according to the respective merits of each application.

Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has decided what action it will take to address the issue of trustee remuneration and the provision of trustee indemnity insurance under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.

Johann Lamont: Following consideration of the issue, it is clear that the restrictions the 2005 act places on the provision of trustee indemnity insurance are the cause of considerable concern within the charity sector. The issue of the provision of trustee indemnity insurance was not raised during the development or passage of the bill, and the difficulties arising from the restrictions on its provision were therefore unintended.

  We have decided that we will take action to address the problem and remove these restrictions on the provision of indemnity insurance through amendment to the provisions in the Charity and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. There are no suitable legislative vehicles in the remainder of this parliamentary session to effect such an amendment and it is not possible at this point to commit to firm plans for legislation in advance of the parliamentary election next year. However, we will work with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and the charitable sector to determine the precise nature of the legislative change that would be required, with a view to developing proposals which can form the basis of legislation to be brought forward when a suitable opportunity arises.

Community Safety

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to each local authority for CCTV in the last three years.

Hugh Henry: Funding for CCTV is available from a range of sources, including both dedicated CCTV programmes and more generic schemes which include CCTV as one element. The principal sources of funding from the Executive for CCTV since 2003 have been provided for flexible response CCTV as part of the Partnership Agreement commitment; funding through the Community Safety Partnership Award programme and as part of Quality of Life funding. This is set out in more detail in the following tables.

  In 2006-07, £780,000 is being provided to seven local authorities who successfully bid for funding for flexible response CCTV as set out in the following table:

  

 Local Authority
 Funding Granted 2006-07


 Aberdeen
£ 49,439


 Dundee
£165,746


 East Lothian
£104,936


 Edinburgh
£ 89,400


 Glasgow
£190,000


 Highland
£150,000


 Renfrewshire
£ 30,000



  Over 2003-06, funding as set out in the following table was allocated to local authorities through the Community Safety Partnership Awards for a range of community safety initiatives, including CCTV.

  Figures are provided in the following table:

  

 Local Authority
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Aberdeenshire
£131,954
£133,027
£107,774


 Aberdeen
£204,186
£201,982
£174,347


 Angus
£ 91,846
£104,848
£ 74,354


 Argyll and Bute
£ 78,465
£ 87,732
£ 62,002


 Clackmannanshire
£ 90,949
£ 78,739
£ 61,109


 Dundee
£154,312
£157,329
£130,646


 Dumfries and Galloway
£101,817
£110,607
£ 85,354


 East Dunbartonshire
£ 98,508
£ 96,494
£ 71,240


 East Ayrshire
£114,775
£115,638
£ 94,196


 East Lothian
£ 89,492
£ 89,574
£ 64,797


 East Renfrewshire
£ 90,795
£ 86,876
£ 63,528


 Edinburgh
£254,189
£259,111
£230,533


 Falkirk
£102,607
£107,775
£ 88,716


 Fife
£203,381
£200,645
£166,339


 Glasgow
£328,717
£322,988
£296,306


 Highland
£136,734
£127,860
£106,895


 Inverclyde
£116,711
£116,852
£ 86,358


 Midlothian
£ 98,442
£101,784
£ 72,719


 Moray
£ 96,121
£ 99,425
£ 69,883


 North Ayrshire
£122,617
£119,060
£ 93,807


 North Lanarkshire
£182,043
£173,472
£156,319


 Orkney
£ 40,208
£ 46,426
£ 21,173


 Perth and Kinross
£ 95,376
£100,545
£ 81,486


 Renfrewshire
£145,433
£143,133
£120,738


 South Ayrshire
£114,056
£114,045
£ 81,645


 South Lanarkshire
£178,891
£166,301
£143,907


 Stirling
£ 89,575
£ 91,352
£ 68,482


 Scottish Borders
£ 94,181
£ 96,721
£ 70,515


 Shetland
£ 42,188
£ 53,913
£ 26,754


 West Dunbartonshire
£122,875
£120,613
£ 98,695


 West Lothian
£139,321
£126,845
£105,880


 Western Isles
£ 49,236
£ 48,289
£ 23,512



  Over 2003-06, indicative expenditure on CCTV from the Quality of Life fund is set out in the following table. Where indicated, these figures include other expenditure on Neighbourhood Safety.

  

 Local Authority
2003-04
(£ Million)
2004-05
(£ Million)
2005-06
(£ Million)
Total
(£ Million)


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0.070
 -
 -
 0.070


 East Ayrshire
 0.180*
 0.180*
 0.165*
 0.525


 East Dunbartonshire
 0.070
 0.120
 0.117
 0.307


 East Renfrewshire
 -
 0.040
 0.040
 0.080


 Edinburgh, City
 0.342
 0.422
 0.300
 1.064


 Eilean Siar
 0.010
 -
 -
 0.010


 Falkirk
 0.100
 -
 -
 0.100


 Fife
 0.100
 0.173
 0.228
 0.501


 Highland
 0.030
 0.030
 0.030
 0.090


 Inverclyde
 0.097
 0.100
 0.100
 0.297


 Moray
 0.020
 0.020
 -
 0.040


 North Ayrshire
 0.120*
 0.120*
 0.050
 0.290


 Renfrewshire
 -
 -
 0.100*
 0.100


 Scottish Borders
 0.029
 0.030
 0.035
 0.094


 South Ayrshire
 0.024
 -
 0.042
 0.066


 Stirling
 0.050*
 -
 -
 0.050


 Total (£ Million)
 1.242
 1.235
 1.207
 3.684



  Note: *These figures include indicative expenditure on CCTV but also cover other expenditure on neighbourhood safety. The CCTV element has not been specifically identified in local authority returns.

Culture

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent promoting Scottish culture in the United States of America in each year since 1999.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Arts Council (SAC) has responsibility for funding and advising those within Scotland’s cultural sectors who seek to promote their work abroad. Figures for work involving United States of America are only available since 2001 and are as follows:

  

Year
Totals
Number of Grants


2001
£16,763
17


2002
£130,183
38


2003
£320,929
79


2004
£78,521
52


2005
£203,893
54



  These figures do not include funding for events directly associated with the annual Tartan Week celebration, which are funded separately.

Direct Payments

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to monitor the extent to which local authorities have promoted the provision of direct payments for community care.

Lewis Macdonald: The focus of the Scottish Executive’s monitoring activity on direct payments is to increase uptake of such payments amongst eligible groups and, from 2006 onwards, to ensure that local authorities provide the necessary local infrastructure to support this aim.

  The Scottish Executive also funds the Consortium of Direct Payments Support Organisations to bring about improved information, training and advice at local level. Their remit involves working in partnership with local agencies, service providers, and local organisations to deliver improved person-centred services, including promoting the participation of service users and their carers in the planning, development and delivery of services.

Direct Payments

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many people have been in receipt of direct payments for community care and (b) what the total value of these payments has been in each year since 2002, broken down by local authority.

Lewis Macdonald: The information is available on the Scottish Executive website at the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/09/25160444/0 .

  The information can be found in tables 1 and 2. Table 1 gives the number of people receiving direct payments and table 2 gives the total and average value of these payments.

Education

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a system of performance monitoring of pre-school and school education expenditure.

Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the evidence I gave to the Education Committee on 24 October 2006 regarding the budget.

Enterprise

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to protect small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) which experience infringement of their intellectual property rights.

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it provides to small and medium-sized enterprises which experience infringement of their intellectual property rights.

Nicol Stephen: While legislation relating to intellectual property is reserved, the Scottish Executive does provide Scottish SMEs with advice relating to the protection of intellectual property. The Intellectual Assets Centre, funded by the Scottish Executive, helps SMEs recognise, protect and exploit all of their intellectual assets, including intellectual property. The Executive also provides impartial, confidential and free specialist advice to inventors and innovative companies by funding the Innovator’s Counselling and Advisory Service for Scotland (ICASS). ICASS offers early stage advice on the commercial potential of ideas.

Enterprise

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its announcement on 19 March 2006 that the six pathfinder Business Improvement Districts would each receive £50,000 to develop business plans over the course of one year, whether a decision been made to allocate additional funding over a longer timescale.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) Steering Group, comprising representatives from across the private and public sectors, will make recommendations to ministers on the allocation of uncommitted funds for 2006-07.

  In addition to the initial £50,000 provided for each pilot project, expenditure has also been committed which will be of benefit to all BID projects, including the employment of a project director, a study tour to existing BIDs in England, and a new Scottish BIDs website which will promulgate best practice.

Enterprise

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, given that the pathfinder Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in Edinburgh and Glasgow have the potential to raise a higher business levy than the other pathfinder BIDs and given that they have secured in-kind support, whether it will grant their requests for additional funding.

Mr Tom McCabe: Applications for additional funding received from individual Business Improvement District (BID) pilot projects will be considered by the BIDs Steering Group. The Steering Group will then make recommendations to ministers.

Enterprise

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis the same amount of money was allocated to each of the six pathfinder Business Improvement Districts, given that the scale of their locations vary substantially.

Mr Tom McCabe: The decision on the amount of funding given to each Business Improvement District (BID) pilot project was made on the basis of recommendations from a Steering Group comprising representatives from across the private and public sectors. The funding provided is to help the pilots meet the sort of start-up costs that all projects face, such as salary costs for local project managers, as they prepare for ballots. The Steering Group will be asked to make recommendations shortly on the allocation of uncommitted funds for 2006-07.

Fire Safety

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what qualifications are required for someone to be considered to be a proficient person under the terms of Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Care Homes.

Hugh Henry: Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Care Homes is the first in a series of fire safety guides being produced by the Scottish Executive to assist those with responsibilities under Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, as amended. Part 3 introduced a new fire safety regime for the majority of non-domestic premises in Scotland (including care homes) with effect from 1 October 2006.

  The new regime is based on the principle of risk assessment and while the legislation does not refer to an assessor’s competence or prescribe either a level of qualification or period of fire safety experience, advice is contained within Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Care Homes.

  The term "proficient" is used in paragraph 32 of the guide in relation to the undertaking of a fire safety risk assessment: "It is essential that the person who undertakes the fire safety risk assessment is proficient to do so." Paragraph 33 of the guide provides further information, advising that persons can be considered proficient where they have sufficient technical training and experience or knowledge, both to carry out a fire safety risk assessment and understand fully the procedures and management involved, and to undertake properly the fire safety measures referred to in the guide.

  Proficiency is therefore unique to the premises and the circumstances, with risk assessment in complex premises likely to require a greater level of knowledge and expertise. General guidance on the fire safety risk assessment process is available at www.infoscotland.com/firelaw.

Forestry Commission

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take steps to release hill land that is currently owned by the Forestry Commission but which remains unplanted for agricultural purposes.

Rhona Brankin: The national forest estate is owned by Scottish ministers and managed by Forestry Commission Scotland. We have no plans to release the remaining unplanted hill land on the national forest estate for agricultural purposes. Unplanted hill land is an integral part of the management of the whole forest estate that helps to deliver important objectives connected with, for example, biodiversity, recreational access, landscape and deer management.

Fostering

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will begin the consultation on the National Fostering Strategy and who will be consulted.

Peter Peacock: I plan to launch the consultation on the National Fostering Strategy in December 2006. This will be a standard public consultation, open for all to respond. In addition, a reference group has been set up to ensure that key stakeholders have an early input to the consultation process.

  The consultation on the strategy will seek views on how we can achieve the goal of creating a safe, stable and secure home and environment for children and young people who need to live in foster care or kinship care and prepare them for independent, adult living. Similarly, it will address the issues identified by foster carers and kinship carers as crucial in improving recruitment and retention, such as financial allowances, other forms of support and training and development. More widely, it will seek views on ensuring fostering services and kinship care arrangements are able to meet the challenges to be faced over the next 20 years.

  I also plan to involve the Education Committee of Parliament in the consideration of the strategy.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28688 by Mr Tom McCabe on 18 October 2006, how much the Relocation Advisory Service spent in (a) 2004-05 and (b) 2005-06 in respect of (i) one-off costs, (ii) software development, (iii) information packs, (iv) staff training manuals, (v) on-going costs, (vi) staffing, (vii) software support and maintenance, (viii) Language Line and (ix) NARIC.

Mr Tom McCabe: Costs
 (a) 2005-06
 (b) 2004-05


(i) one off costs*includes(iii)Information packs(iv) Staff training manuals(ii) Software development
£10,029.26
£349,160.64


 (v) On-going costs
£44.12
 


 (vi) Staffing
£252,745.00
£87,668.92


 (vii) Software support and maintenance
£27,177.75
£61,652.25


 (viii) Language Line
£3,829.51
£2,499.76


 (ix) Naric
 0
£2,285.38


 Other, including promotional activities.
£6,752.21
£1,410.00


 Total
£300,577.85
£504,676.95



  Note: *This also includes software, hardware and telephony, due to the nature of the contract a further breakdown of these costs is not available.

Genetically Modified Food

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-27812, S2W-27813 and S2W-27814 by Rhona Brankin on 22 September 2006, whether the Food Standards Agency Scotland has any role in the United Kingdom’s consideration of applications for the approval of genetically modified food and feed under Regulation (EC) 1829/2003.

Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency is a UK-wide government department and is the UK’s competent authority for applications for authorisation made under regulation (EC) 1829/2003. The agency’s office in Scotland ensures that devolved requirements, with regard to GM food and feed are fully met.

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the owners of all PFI/PPP hospitals.

Mr Andy Kerr: A database of all PFI projects giving details of the commissioning Health Board and the Private Sector Partners can be found at www.show.scot.nhs.uk/pfcu/ .

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much income generated by private finance consortiums through selling equity stakes has been passed on to public authorities to build PFI/PPP hospitals.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held.

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the termination costs were (a) before and (b) after the refinancing of PFI/PPP hospitals.

Mr Andy Kerr: The only health related PFI project in Scotland to be refinanced is at Hairmyres Hospital in Lanarkshire.

  The difference in termination costs cannot be expressed in absolute terms as the actual sum paid would be determined by the date of termination.

  The proposals for refinancing were reviewed by the HM Treasury sponsored Refinancing Taskforce to ensure compliance with the refinancing code of conduct. The refinancing proposal was also subject to a Full Business Case process prior to a deal being signed to demonstrate that value for money was secured.

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial help is available to those who wish to travel a long distance to visit relatives in hospitals and what steps it is taking to publicise this financial help among patients.

Mr Andy Kerr: There are currently two patients’ travelling expenses schemes. A non-means tested Highlands and Islands Scheme for patients resident or working in the former Highlands and Islands Development Board area and a means tested scheme covering the rest of the country. Under the schemes eligible patients and, where considered medically necessary, their escorts, travelling to hospital for treatment, are reimbursed, either fully or partially, their travelling expenses. In addition, the cost of unavoidable overnight expenses can be reimbursed if it is considered that an overnight stay is, in practice, unavoidable.

  Help for visitors to patients in hospital is not available under the travelling expenses schemes and there are no plans to extend the schemes to allow this.

  However, recipients of qualifying benefits visiting someone in hospital may be able to obtain some help in the form of a Community Care Grant from the Social Fund.

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many premature births there have been in each year since 1979, also expressed as a proportion of all births.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested has been given in table form by NHS Information Services, and can be found in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 40752).

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the mean length of stay was for patients admitted to hospital in each year since 1990, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on the mean length of a continuous in-patient stay in hospital is presented in the following table.

  Table 1: Mean Length of Stay1,2,3 (Days) by NHS Board of Treatment, Calendar Years 1990 to 2005

  

 NHS Board of Treatment
 1990
 1991
 1992
 1993
 1994
 1995
 1996
 1997


 Argyll and Clyde
 9.0
 8.4
 8.7
 8.7
 8.0
 7.7
 7.8
 7.9


 Ayrshire and Arran
 7.1
 7.0
 6.6
 6.3
 6.3
 6.0
 6.7
 7.8


 Borders
 9.7
 9.8
 8.7
 8.9
 9.3
 8.5
 8.1
 8.2


 Dumfries and Galloway
 7.3
 7.3
 6.9
 6.3
 6.1
 6.1
 6.5
 6.1


 Fife
 8.0
 7.6
 7.3
 7.2
 7.1
 7.1
 7.1
 7.4


 Forth Valley
 7.2
 7.1
 7.0
 6.8
 6.4
 6.1
 6.4
 6.4


 Grampian
 9.0
 8.7
 8.5
 8.6
 8.3
 7.8
 7.6
 7.5


 Greater Glasgow
 8.8
 8.8
 8.2
 7.8
 7.8
 7.5
 7.1
 7.1


 Highland
 7.6
 7.4
 7.2
 7.1
 6.9
 6.9
 7.4
 7.4


 Lanarkshire
 8.8
 8.4
 8.1
 7.8
 7.6
 7.4
 7.1
 7.2


 Lothian
 9.0
 8.8
 8.1
 7.9
 7.7
 7.4
 7.5
 7.5


 Orkney 4
 22.8
 29.2
 23.4
 27.2
 24.5
 25.7
 19.9
 27.1


 Shetland
 8.2
 9.6
 7.1
 9.9
 6.7
 6.5
 6.2
 6.9


 Tayside
 9.2
 8.7
 8.3
 8.0
 7.9
 7.9
 7.7
 7.7


 Western Isles
 11.5
 10.1
 9.8
 10.1
 9.7
 9.3
 8.9
 9.8


 Golden Jubilee Hospital
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Scotland
 8.7
 8.4
 8.0
 7.8
 7.6
 7.4
 7.3
 7.4



  

NHS Board of Treatment
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005


Argyll and Clyde
8.4
8.1
7.8
8.0
7.6
7.4
7.3
7.4


Ayrshire and Arran
7.1
7.0
7.6
7.5
7.4
7.2
7.1
7.3


Borders
7.7
7.8
8.2
8.0
7.8
8.0
7.4
7.6


Dumfries and Galloway
6.1
6.1
6.3
6.2
6.5
6.6
6.8
6.7


Fife
7.2
7.5
7.7
7.4
7.5
7.2
7.4
7.3


Forth Valley
6.6
6.9
6.8
6.6
7.1
7.2
7.0
7.0


Grampian
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.7
7.7
7.7
7.6
7.5


Greater Glasgow
7.2
6.9
6.9
6.9
7.1
7.4
7.3
7.3


Highland
7.5
7.2
7.4
7.8
7.7
7.9
7.6
7.7


Lanarkshire
7.2
7.2
7.1
7.2
7.4
7.3
7.3
7.3


Lothian
7.5
7.5
7.3
7.8
7.6
7.9
7.8
7.5


Orkney 4
11.8
7.7
8.4
7.8
8.5
6.9
6.8
6.4


Shetland
6.1
5.6
5.5
6.1
5.2
6.0
5.0
5.1


Tayside
7.8
7.5
7.6
7.5
7.7
7.5
7.0
6.9


Western Isles
9.9
9.8
10.6
10.5
10.2
9.9
10.1
9.0


Golden Jubilee Hospital
-
-
-
-
4.5
3.9
3.3
3.1


Scotland
7.4
7.3
7.3
7.4
7.4
7.5
7.3
7.3



  Notes:

  1. Mean length of stay (days) per continuous spell in hospital. A continuous in-patient stay is an unbroken period of time that a patient spends as an in-patient. A patient may change consultant, significant facility, specialty, hospital and/or provider unit during a continuous in-patient stay. The length of stay is calculated as the number of days from the date of admission to the date of discharge.

  2. Both emergency and non-emergency in-patient admissions are included in this analysis.

  3. Based on Acute specialties. Obstetric and Psychiatric specialties are excluded.

  4. In Orkney, a number of long stay patients have been included under the "GP other than Obstetrics" specialty. For this reason the mean length of stay in Orkney is noticeably high for years 1990-98.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of GP practices use the General Practice Administration System for Scotland (GPASS).

Mr Andy Kerr: The number of GP practices using the GPASS system stands at 857, which represents 83% of Scottish practices.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many GP practices have the (a) latest version and (b) earlier versions of the General Practice Administration System for Scotland (GPASS), broken down by GPASS version.

Mr Andy Kerr: According to GPASS records, of the 857 GP practices in Scotland using GPASS, 818 use the latest version 5.7, 38 use version 5.6, zero use 5.5 and 1 uses version 5.4.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any known faults with the General Practice Administration System for Scotland (GPASS), broken down by GPASS version, and indicate which of these faults could compromise patient (a) safety and (b) confidentiality.

Mr Andy Kerr: There are no known faults in GPASS version 5.7, the latest version of the software, which could affect patient safety or confidentiality. Version 5.4 had a known fault which could affect patient safety of clinical notes in certain rare circumstances but this has been corrected in version 5.7. Version 5.6 had a minor issue with display of dates on summary sheets. Practices have been notified of all such issues, given the means to identify any potential instances of the fault, and encouraged to move to the latest version where the fault is removed.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many and what percentage of hours between 8am and 6pm on Mondays through to Fridays in the last two years the General Practice Administration System for Scotland (GPASS) has been "down" and therefore unavailable to GPs.

Mr Andy Kerr: GPASS does not manage local GPASS servers and hence details of down-time are not recorded by the supplier GPASS. However, over the past two years there have been 441 calls to helpdesk noting local server system down. This represents less than one incident per practice every four years on average.

  With respect to centrally-managed GPASS servers, there are 20 practices in this category. Down-time data is available for the last 10 months and shows a total of eight instances of down-time amounting to 10 hours. Of the total hours between 8am and 6pm this represents 0.47%.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the scheduled General Practice Administration System for Scotland (GPASS) releases for the next six months.

Mr Andy Kerr: The releases scheduled with dates at current time are as follows:

  

 Release
 Due Date


 GP Contract improvements
 October 2006


 GPASS Clinical 1.1
 October 2006


 Acute Medication Services (ePharmacy)
 November 2006


 Maintenance Release 2
 November 2006


 Drug Dictionary updates
 November 2006


 Version for Scottish Prison Service
 November 2006


 Version for State Hospital
 December 2006


 Update for SCI Gateway Interface
 December 2006


 Maintenance Release 3
 February 2007


 Scottish Enhanced Functionality 3
 February 2007


 GPASS Clinical 2
 March 2007


 Update for SCI Diabetes Collaboration 
 March 2007



  Releases scheduled but with dates not yet finalised at current time are as follows:

  

Release
Provisional Date


Drug Dictionary 46
November 2006


Drug Dictionary 47
February 2007


Read Code Update
February 2007


GP2GP (electronic transfer of records between practices when patients move)
March 2007


Update to Data Protection
March 2007


Read Code Formularies
March 2007


Dispensing
March 2007

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the report on General Practice Administration System for Scotland (GPASS) commissioned by the eHealth strategy group which was due to report in June 2006 will be published.

Mr Andy Kerr: The consultants gave an initial report on their emerging findings to the eHealth Strategy Board on 28 June. The board asked for further work and consultation, which will be completed shortly. The final report will be available when that work is complete.

Health

Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-10768 by Lewis Macdonald on 5 October 2006, what criteria it uses to decide which conditions qualify as chronic.

Lewis Macdonald: The current list of chronic medical conditions that confer exemption from charges was agreed with the medical profession in 1968. The criteria for placing conditions on the list at that time were that they must be:

  easily recognisable

  lifelong and life threatening

  such as to require regular prescribed medicines.

  There are no criteria for placing additional conditions on the list and it has not been updated since 1968.

Higher Education

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many physiotherapy graduates there have been from each of Scotland’s universities in each of the last three years.

Nicol Stephen: The following table contains the information you requested.

  Graduates in Physiotherapy from Scottish Higher Education Institutions Academic Years 2002-03 to 2004-05

  

 Academic Year
 All HEIs
 Postgraduate
 First Degree


 Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh
 The Robert Gordon University
 Glasgow Caledonian University
 Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh
 The Robert Gordon University
 Glasgow Caledonian University


 2002-03
 210
 20
 15
 25
 40
 35
 75


 2003-04
 215
 25
 20
 25
 45
 30
 70


 2004-05
 220
 30
 20
 20
 45
 40
 60



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest five to protect confidentiality. Values may not sum to total due to rounding.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many death certificates in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005 mentioned clostridium difficile and, of these, how many listed clostridium difficile as the underlying cause of death.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is given in the following table.

  Deaths where Clostridium difficile1 was Mentioned on the Death Certificate Scotland, 2003-05 (Year)

  

 
 2003
 2004
 2005


Clostridium difficile mentioned (includes underlying cause)
 188
 239
 313


Clostridium difficile selected as underlying cause
 73
 98
 100



  Note: 1. Includes cases where the infection was recorded as a contributory factor as well as cases where the infection was selected as the underlying cause of death.

  These data should be treated with caution. Recording of HAIs as a cause of death is based on the clinical judgement of individual doctors. Recording of specific causes may be influenced by an increased public and professional awareness of that infection, and increases in reporting may not reliably indicate true changes in incidence.

  The ministerial HAI Task Force has developed a raft of measures, based on evidence and best practice, including surveillance, professional guidance, education and training programmes, and enhanced reporting and accountability structures. Guidance on the prudent use of antibiotics, which is one of the main factors in controlling Clostridium difficile, issued in September 2005.

  As part of the work of the ministerial HAI Task Force, we have enhanced monitoring and surveillance measures, and reporting of all cases of Clostridium difficile was made mandatory for NHS laboratories from September 2006.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive in how many deaths (a) clostridium difficile and (b) MRSA was recorded as a contributory factor in each year since 2002, broken down by hospital and expressed also as a proportion of all deaths.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is given in the following tables.

  Deaths where Clostridium Difficile1 was Mentioned on the Death Certificate Scotland, 2002-05, by Hospital (Year)

  

 Hospital
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
 7
 6
 2
 6


 Annan Hospital
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Arbroath Infirmary
 0
 0
 2
 1


 Ashludie Hospital, Dundee
 1
 2
 2
 1


 Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh
 0
 2
 4
 3


 Ayr Hospital
 0
 0
 1
 4


 Ayrshire Central Hospital
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Bannockburn Hospital, Stirling
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Belford Hospital, Fort William
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Belhaven Hospital, Dunbar
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Biggart Hospital, Prestwick
 1
 2
 2
 0


 Blairgowrie Cottage Hospital
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Blawarthill Hospital, Glasgow
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Borders General Hospital
 1
 0
 1
 4


 Cameron Hospital, Fife
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Community Hospital, Cumnock
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Cottage Hospital, Castle Douglas
 0
 0
 1
 2


 Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock
 12
 9
 13
 7


 Dalrymple Hospital, Stranraer
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Doctor Gray’s Hospital, Elgin
 0
 2
 0
 1


 Drumchapel Hospital, Glasgow
 1
 2
 0
 0


 Dumfries/Galloway Royal Infirmary
 1
 2
 3
 16


 Ellen’s Glen House, Edinburgh
 2
 1
 0
 1


 Falkirk & District Royal Infirmary
 3
 4
 5
 2


 Forfar Infirmary
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Fraserburgh Hospital
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow
 4
 2
 3
 4


 Glasgow Royal Infirmary
 3
 6
 12
 14


 Glenrothes Hospital
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride
 5
 4
 7
 16


 Holmhead Hospital, Cumnock
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Greenock
 1
 2
 5
 4


 Inverurie Hospital
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Irvine Memorial Hospital, Pitlochry
 0
 0
 0
 2


 Jubilee Hospital, Huntly
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Kello Hospital, Biggar
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Kildean Hospital, Stirling
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Kirkcudbright Hospital
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Kirklandside Hospital, Kilmarnock
 0
 2
 0
 1


 Lady Home Cottage Hospital, Lanark
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Leanchoil Hospital, Forres
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Liberton Hospital, Edinburgh
 4
 14
 12
 21


 Lightburn Hospital, Glasgow
 2
 3
 5
 6


 Loanhead Hospital, Midlothian
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Lochmaben Hospital, Lockerbie
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Lynebank Hospital, Dunfermline
 0
 1
 2
 1


 Monklands General Hospital, Airdrie
 1
 3
 6
 5


 Montrose Royal Infirmary
 0
 0
 1
 0


 New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
 0
 8
 10
 12


 Newton Stewart Hospital
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Ninewells Hospital, Dundee
 5
 5
 7
 9


 Perth Royal Infirmary
 3
 1
 2
 5


 Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline
 6
 10
 17
 18


 Raigmore Hospital, Inverness
 1
 2
 2
 2


 Randolph Wemyss Memorial Hospital, Buckhaven
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Roadmeetings Hospital, Carluke
 0
 0
 1
 1


 Roodlands General Hospital, Haddington
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Rosslynlee Hospital, Midlothian
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Roxburghe House, Aberdeen
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Roxburghe House, Dundee
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley
 8
 6
 9
 12


 Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
 11
 4
 0
 0


 Royal Victoria Hospital, Dundee
 1
 2
 3
 1


 Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh
 7
 7
 2
 18


 Sauchie Hospital
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Southern General Hospital, Glasgow
 2
 7
 5
 7


 St John’s Hospital, Livingston
 1
 3
 1
 6


 Stirling Royal Infirmary
 4
 5
 3
 10


 Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow
 12
 7
 8
 8


 Stonehouse Hospital
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Stracathro Hospital, Brechin
 2
 0
 0
 0


 Strathclyde Hospital
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Udston Hospital, Hamilton
 0
 1
 1
 1


 Vale of Leven Hospital, Alexandria
 3
 0
 2
 1


 Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
 3
 5
 3
 3


 Victoria Infirmary, Helensburgh
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Victoria Infirmary, Langside Road, Glasgow
 6
 1
 9
 8


 Victoria Infirmary, Mansionhouse Road Glasgow
 1
 1
 6
 5


 War Memorial Hospital, Isle of Arran
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Wester Moffat Hospital, Airdrie
 0
 2
 1
 0


 Western General Hospital, Edinburgh
 3
 10
 14
 13


 Western Infirmary (Beatson Oncology Centre), Glasgow
 0
 1
 1
 1


 Western Infirmary, Glasgow
 2
 5
 4
 8


 Whyteman’s Brae Hospital, Kirkcaldy
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Wishaw General Hospital
 15
 5
 5
 5


 Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen
 2
 2
 6
 5


 Hospital total
 153
 179
 222
 291


 Non-hospital
 11
 9
 17
 22


 Total
 164
 188
 239
 313


 Proportion of all deaths
 0.3%
 0.3%
 0.4%
 0.6%



  Note: Includes cases where the infection was recorded as a contributory factor as well as cases where the infection was selected as the underlying cause of death.

  Deaths where MRSA1 was Mentioned on the Death Certificate Scotland, 2002-05, by Hospital (Year)

  

 Hospital
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
 7
 3
 6
 6


 Arbroath Infirmary
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Ashludie Hospital, Dundee
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh
 1
 0
 2
 2


 Ayr Hospital
 4
 2
 3
 3


 Ayrshire Central Hospital
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Biggart Hospital, Prestwick
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Borders General Hospital
 3
 4
 0
 0


 Brechin Infirmary
 0
 1
 1
 0


 Caithness General Hospital
 0
 4
 2
 1


 Community Hospital, Cumnock
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Cottage Hospital
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock
 4
 3
 2
 2


 Doctor Gray’s Hospital, Elgin
 1
 2
 1
 0


 Drumchapel Hospital, Glasgow
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Dumfries/Galloway Royal Infirmary
 2
 4
 6
 10


 Falkirk & District Royal Infirmary
 4
 4
 3
 0


 Fraserburgh Hospital
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow
 5
 4
 5
 4


 Gilbert Bain Hospital, Shetland
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Glasgow Royal Infirmary
 12
 12
 14
 18


 Glen O’Dee Hospital, Banchory
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Glenrothes Hospital
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride
 0
 2
 7
 11


 Inverclyde Royal Hospital
 3
 1
 3
 1


 Inverurie Hospital
 1
 0
 1
 0


 Irvine Memorial Hospital, Pitlochry
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Kelso Hospital
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Kincardine Community Hospital
 0
 0
 0
 0


 King’s Cross Hospital, Dundee
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Kirkcudbright Hospital
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Kirklandside Hospital, Kilmarnock
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Lady Margaret Hospital, Millport
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Liberton Hospital, Edinburgh
 1
 3
 6
 3


 Lightburn Hospital, Glasgow
 0
 0
 1
 4


 Little Cairnie Hospital, Arbroath
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Lorn & Islands District Hospital, Oban
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Lynebank Hospital, Dunfermline
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Mid Argyll Hospital, Lochgilphead
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Monklands General Hospital, Airdrie
 8
 6
 5
 5


 Montfield Hospital, Shetland
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Montrose Royal Infirmary
 0
 0
 0
 2


 Murray Royal Hospital, Perth
 0
 0
 1
 0


 New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
 0
 10
 11
 16


 Ninewells Hospital, Dundee
 11
 7
 14
 8


 Perth Royal Infirmary
 1
 2
 3
 5


 Peterhead Community Hospital
 2
 1
 2
 0


 Portree Hospital
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline
 3
 16
 10
 7


 Raigmore Hospital, Inverness
 4
 2
 2
 8


 Randolph Wemyss Memorial Hospital, Buckhaven
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Ravenscraig Hospital, Greenock
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Roodlands General Hospital, Haddington
 1
 0
 1
 1


 Roxburghe House, Aberdeen
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley
 4
 1
 5
 4


 Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
 22
 5
 0
 0


 Royal Northern Infirmary, Inverness
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh
 2
 1
 1
 3


 Royal Victoria Hospital, Dundee
 0
 0
 2
 0


 Sauchie Hospital
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Seafield Hospital, Buckie
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Southern General Hospital, Glasgow
 2
 6
 5
 3


 St Brendan’s Hospital
 0
 0
 1
 0


 St John’s Hospital, Livingston
 3
 0
 5
 2


 Stirling Royal Infirmary
 2
 0
 2
 3


 Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow
 3
 2
 5
 10


 Stracathro Hospital, Brechin
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Stratheden Hospital, Cupar
 0
 0
 0
 0


 The Orchards, Glasgow
 0
 0
 0
 1


 The Princess Royal Maternity Unit, Glasgow
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Thomas Hope Hospital, Langholm
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Vale of Leven Hospital, Alexandria
 0
 3
 0
 1


 Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
 2
 3
 6
 6


 Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow
 2
 7
 5
 3


 Victoria Infirmary (Geriatric Unit), Glasgow
 1
 1
 0
 0


 Wester Moffat Hospital, Airdrie
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Western General Hospital, Edinburgh
 12
 13
 5
 7


 Western Infirmary, Glasgow
 1
 5
 6
 8


 Western Infirmary (Beatson Oncology Centre), Glasgow
 0
 0
 0
 2


 Western Isles Hospital
 0
 1
 1
 2


 Whyteman’s Brae Hospital, Kirkcaldy
 1
 1
 0
 0


 Wishaw General Hospital
 3
 3
 5
 4


 Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen
 0
 1
 2
 1


 Hospital total
 142
 155
 172
 187


 Non-hospital
 13
 14
 18
 25


 Total
 155
 169
 190
 212


 % of all deaths
 0.3%
 0.3%
 0.3%
 0.4%



  Note: 1. Includes cases where the infection was recorded as a contributory factor as well as cases where the infection was selected as the underlying cause of death.

  These data should be treated with caution. Recording of HAIs as a cause of death is based on the clinical judgement of individual doctors. Recording of specific causes may be influenced by an increased public and professional awareness of that infection, and increases in reporting may not reliably indicate true changes in incidence.

  The ministerial HAI Task Force has developed a raft of measures, based on evidence and best practice, including surveillance, professional guidance, education and training programmes, and enhanced reporting and accountability structures. Guidance on the prudent use of antibiotics, which is one of the main factors in controlling Clostridium difficile, issued in September 2005.

  As part of the work of the HAI Task Force, we have enhanced monitoring and surveillance measures, and reporting of all cases of Clostridium difficile was made mandatory for NHS laboratories from September 2006.

Housing

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the reports which Communities Scotland has commissioned, or is in the process of commissioning, from external sources in respect of housing stock transfer and related matters in Glasgow in each year since May 1999, giving details of the remit, cost, and relevant contractor or consultant for each report.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the reports which it has commissioned, or is in the process of commissioning, from external sources in relation to housing stock transfer and related matters in Glasgow in each year since May 1999, giving details of the remit, cost and relevant contractor or consultant for each report.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Since 1999 our records suggest that Communities Scotland or the Scottish Executive have commissioned two reports on housing transfer in Glasgow:

  -In 2001 the Scottish Executive commissioned Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) to provide a diagnostic review on the Glasgow Stock Transfer at a cost of £30,000

  -In October 2002, Communities Scotland and Glasgow City Council jointly commissioned The University of Strathclyde to carry out a review of the Area Housing Partnerships in the City, the cost of which was £9,500 including VAT.

  In addition, in June 2005, Communities Scotland commissioned Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) to provide a broad range of financial advice to inform Communities Scotland’s joint work with Glasgow Housing Association on how best to deliver Second Stage Transfers. PwC are continuing to support Communities Scotland in this work. The cost is £125,068 plus VAT.

Housing

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28686 by Mr Tom McCabe on 18 October 2006, whether the Relocation Advisory Service offers assistance with finding suitable housing for migrants seeking to relocate to Scotland.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Relocation Advisory Service does not offer personal assistance in finding housing. It will provide information to anyone wishing to relocate to Scotland on the housing market in Scotland, both to buy and to rent, by directing people to relevant information; including the Scottish Executive guides Thinking about buying: A Guide to House Purchase in Scotland and www.betterrentingscotland.com .

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the amount of police time deployed in serving prosecution witness citations in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider using sheriff officers to cite prosecution witnesses and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Elish Angiolini QC: There are no plans to use sheriff officers to cite prosecution witnesses.

  In September 2003 a system of issuing citations by post was introduced for most witnesses in summary cases. From April 2006 postal citation was extended to civilian witnesses in sheriff and jury cases, except those with special requirements, such as children, vulnerable adults and witnesses whose first language is not English. The number of citations the police have to serve personally has fallen by an average of almost 68,000 per year.

  Witnesses receive a letter through the post including a reply form, postage paid, for return to the Procurator Fiscal. This is a modern and efficient system for citing civilian witnesses in a way that is more convenient for witnesses and frees up police time. Using sheriff officers would require manual production of hard copies for delivery and manual processing of the receipts. The retention of police delivery for vulnerable witnesses and children, however, avoids them receiving letters they may not fully understand and provides an opportunity for them to ask questions of the person who delivers the citation.

  It is intended to introduce postal citation for High Court witnesses later this year and plans to issue electronic citations for police witnesses are progressing.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecution witness citations have been served by police officers in each year since 1999.

Eilish Angiolini QC: The total number of witness citations issued for service by police officers (or by civilian staff employed by the police) on non-police prosecution witnesses is set out in the following table.

  Prosecution Witness Citations (Non-Police Witnesses): Number of Citations Issued to Police for Personal Service1

  

Year2
No. of Citations


2002-03
315,651


2003-04
280,008


2004-05
248,507


2005-06
211,494



  Notes:

  1. The information in the table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. For operational reasons, some witness citations may need to be re-issued and this will create some duplication of records within the database.

  2. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service completed an upgrade of its electronic case management system in April 2002. Only case records created after that date contain complete data which is capable of electronic analysis.

  The main reason for the reduction in the number of citations issued to the police for personal service in recent years has been the introduction of arrangements for serving some citations by post. In 2005-06 around 70,000 witness citations were successfully served by post.

Lord Advocate

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Lord Advocate will revert to being a civil servant when she demits that office.

Mr Tom McCabe: No. Ms Angiolini resigned from the civil service on 4 December 2001. It would, however, be open to her when she demits her current role, to apply for any externally advertised civil service posts. As a former civil servant, she would also be eligible to apply to the civil service for re-appointment to either a post in the same range as held on resignation (re-instatement) or to a post in a higher or lower range to that held on resignation (re-employment). However, no previous employee has a right to either re-instatement or re-employment and all applications are considered taking into account the current needs of the department.

Lord Advocate

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a position within the Procurator Fiscal Service is being held open for the Lord Advocate to fill when she demits that office and, if so, which position is being held open.

Mr Tom McCabe: No. The Lord Advocate resigned from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service when she was nominated as Solicitor General.

Lord Advocate

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what previous involvement the Lord Advocate has had in the (a) Shirley McKie fingerprint case and (b) Lockerbie trial.

Elish Angiolini QC: I had no involvement in any of the criminal investigations or prosecutions related to this matter. I was involved in the civil litigation by Shirley McKie against the Scottish ministers, in my capacity as a Law Officer.

  I had no involvement in the Lockerbie trial.

Mental Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what the prevalence of mental health problems has been in Glasgow in each year since 1999.

Lewis Macdonald: The Information requested is not held centrally.

  Understanding evidence around the prevalence of mental health problems is a complex matter. The Well? What Do You Think? National Survey of Public Attitudes to Mental Health (2004) estimated that one in four people will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime. These problems will differ widely in type, severity and frequency with treatment provided in a variety of different settings within health, social care and voluntary services.

  It is for NHS boards working with local authorities and other partners to provide services responsive to the particular needs of their areas. Assessment of need and prevalence will form part of effective treatment and local service provision.

  The Executive will be publishing a national mental health delivery plan at the end of this year to further improve the delivery of mental health services.

Ministerial Correspondence

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development’s office has acknowledged and replied to the Scottish Gamekeepers Association’s letter of 2 August 2006.

Rhona Brankin: There is no record of such a letter being received in the Executive. I would invite the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association to re-send the letter.

Ministerial Correspondence

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development was advised to refuse to attend a meeting organised by the Moorland Forum at Langholm if a representative of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association was present and, if so, what the reason was for this advice and by whom it was given.

Rhona Brankin: I received no such advice.

Museums

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will be able to announce whether any additional funding will be available to the Wanlockhead Miners’ Library and Museum of Lead Mining.

Patricia Ferguson: The Executive is committed to providing support for collections of national significance in the care of local authorities and other organisations. That is why we gave one-off funding of £40,000 to Wanlockhead in 2002-03 to clear its accumulated deficits and prevent closure. Under the new Significance Scheme which I launched on 26 October, we will provide funding of £500,000 per year over the next two years to support non-national museums. I hope that Wanlockhead Museum will apply for recognition under our new scheme, and officials have written to the Museum Trustees asking what development assistance the museum requires to support such an application.

NHS Staff

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new physiotherapy graduates found employment in the NHS in Scotland in each of the last three years.

Mr Andy Kerr: Workforce statistics indicate that since 2003 there has been an increase of (10.7%) 202.1 whole-time equivalent qualified physiotherapists in post in NHSScotland. These statistics includes all physiotherapy staff and do not relate specifically to new graduates

NHS Waiting Lists

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people per 100,000 have been on NHS waiting lists in each year since 1997.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on the number of people on NHS waiting lists per 100,000 population is shown in the following table. The rate has been calculated using the number of people on a waiting list on 31 March of each year from 1997 to 2006 and dividing this by the Scottish population.

  Table 1: Number of people on NHS waiting lists per 100,000 population, as at 31 March 1997 to 2006

  

 Census Date
 In-Patients/Day Cases
 New Out-Patients


 Number with and without an ASC1
 Number without an ASC2
 Number with and without an ASC3
 Number without an ASC2


 31 March 1997
 2,050
 1,620
 n/a
 n/a


 31 March 1998
 2,178
 1,706
 n/a
 n/a


 31 March 1999
 1,769
 1,341
 n/a
 n/a


 31 March 2000
 2,062
 1,586
 n/a
 n/a


 31 March 2001
 2,108
 1,559
 n/a
 n/a


 31 March 2002
 1,918
 1,327
 n/a
 n/a


 31 March 2003
 2,120
 1,581
 n/a
 n/a


 31 March 2004
 2,167
 1,597
 n/a
 n/a


 31 March 2005
 2,206
 1,510
 3,972
 3,631


 31 March 2006
 2,116
 1,442
 3,653
 3,237



  Notes:

  1. This figure is based on those patients who were within the scope of the waiting times guarantee when added to the waiting list. Essentially this is Scottish residents waiting for admission to an acute specialty. This includes patients with an Availability Status Code (ASC).

  2. This figure is based on the total number of patients on the waiting list with a guarantee (without an ASC).

  3. This figure is based on those patients who were within the scope of the guarantee when added to the waiting list. Essentially this is Scottish residents referred by a GP/GDP waiting for a new consultant out-patient appointment to an acute specialty. This includes patients with an ASC.

  New out-patient waiting lists were not collected centrally until 30 September 2004.

  Rates are based on General Register Office for Scotland population estimates and projections.

  The figures above should be regarded as indicative due to the characteristics of the data on which they are based:

  In-patient/day case and new out-patient figures are derived from the monthly waiting list censuses (SMR3 and OPWL respectively).

  Both data sets have issues of under-recording – (a) not all patients waiting on the census date will be recorded due to delays in placing their details on hospital computer systems, (b) certain consultant services are not included in waiting lists – for in-patients/day cases these are generally within the acute medical sector, and for out-patients within the psychiatric sector.

  An individual patient may appear on any census more than once if he/she is waiting for admission to more than a single service.

NHS Waiting Times

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for a GP appointment in NHS Lothian and what action it is taking to reduce this time.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not available centrally.

  The Scottish Executive’s target is that anyone contacting their GP practice should have guaranteed access to a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional within 48 hours.

  For the year 2005-06, NHS boards reported (nationally) that over 99% of practices demonstrated compliance with Health Department requirements for this guarantee. This compares to 97% in 2004-05. NHS Lothian reported 100% compliance for both 2004-05 and 2005-06.

  Information on the target and the guidance issued to NHS boards is available publicly from the 48 Hour Access website http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/48houraccess.

Pensions

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Lord Advocate will continue to contribute to the civil service pension scheme.

Mr Tom McCabe: Any contributions to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme by the Lord Advocate would have ceased when she resigned from the civil service on 4 December 2001.

Pensions

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive by what authority and under what statute civil service pensions are provided for Scottish ministers or law officers.

Mr Tom McCabe: The posts of the Scottish ministers, the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General are covered by the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme (SPPS), rather than the Civil Service Pension Scheme. The SPPS was established by the Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme) Order 1999 (SI 1999/1082) by the Secretary of State for Scotland under powers in the Scotland Act 1998. The scheme is administered by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

Planning

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive how much green space has been lost in Glasgow since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally. Draft Scottish Planning Policy 11: Physical Activity and Open Space , which is out for consultation until 3 November, proposes a requirement on local authorities to undertake audits of open space in their areas and to set out a strategic approach to open space provision. Views are also being sought on the need for annual monitoring of changes in local provision of green/open space.

Planning

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of brownfield sites in Glasgow have been undeveloped for over (a) 10, (b) 20 and (c) 30 years.

Johann Lamont: Brownfield land is defined in Scottish Planning Policy 3 (SPP3) as land which has previously been developed. The Scottish Executive does not hold centrally information on the quantity of brownfield land within local authority areas.

  A significant proportion of brownfield land comprises land designated as vacant or derelict. Information regarding vacant and derelict land is collected by the Executive and published annually in the voluntary Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey (SVDLS) and can be seen as an indicator of the approximate amount of brownfield land in local authority areas.

  Results from the 2005 SVDLS indicate that out of a total of 853 sites in the Glasgow City Council area:

  103 (12%) have lain vacant or derelict since 1980 or earlier

  315 (37%) have lain vacant or derelict since 1985 or earlier

  390 (46%) have lain vacant or derelict since 1990 or earlier

  500 (59%) have lain vacant or derelict since 1995 or earlier.

  Further information can be found in the 2005 SVDLS bulletin available on the internet at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/01/30155550/0.

  Previous surveys are also published on the Scottish Executive website.

  Note that sites covering less than 0.1 hectares are excluded from the SVDLS. The information presented includes only that vacant land which is located within an urban settlement with a population of 2,000 or more.

  Information from the 2006 Survey will be published in January 2007.

Planning

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of Glasgow has been designated as brownfield land since 1999.

Johann Lamont: Brownfield land is defined in Scottish Planning Policy 3 (SPP3) as land which has previously been developed. The Scottish Executive does not hold centrally information on the total area of brownfield land within local authority areas.

  A significant proportion of brownfield land comprises land designated as vacant or derelict. Information regarding vacant and derelict land is collected by the Executive and published annually in the Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey and can be seen as an indicator of the approximate amount of brownfield land in local authority areas. The most recent survey (2005) is available on the internet at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/01/30155550/0.

  Previous surveys are also available on-line at the Scottish Executive website.

  The amount of vacant and derelict land in Glasgow City Council area since 1999 is laid out in the following table:

  Area of Vacant and Derelict Land (hectares), Glasgow City Council, 1999-20051-3

  

Year of Survey
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005


Amount of Vacant or Derelict Land 
(Hectares)
1,558
1,476
1,392
1,372
1,335
1,305
1,313



  Notes:

  1. Sites covering less than 0.1 hectares are excluded.

  2. The information presented includes only that vacant land which is located within an urban settlement with a population of 2,000 or more.

  3. Information from the 2006 Survey will be published in January 2007.

Prison Service

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many female remand prisoners have been sent from Aberdeen to Cornton Vale Prison in each of the last 24 months and, of these, how many were returned to Aberdeen for trial.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The number of prisoners transferred from Aberdeen to Cornton Vale Prison in each of the last 24 months is as follows:

  

 Month
 2004
 2005
 2006


 January
 0
 7
 0


 February
 0
 6
 0


 March
 0
 3
 0


 April
 0
 3
 0


 May
 0
 4
 0


 June
 0
 2
 0


 July
 0
 7
 0


 August
 0
 4
 0


 September
 0
 15
 0


 October
 0
 0
 0


 November
 2
 0
 0


 December
 9
 0
 0



  The information requested on the number of prisoners transferred to Aberdeen for trial is not available.

Public Private Partnerships

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to close any loopholes permitting PFI/PPP contract holders to avoid paying taxes on these contracts.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has no devolved functions in relation to the taxation of PFI/PPP contract holders. Companies established for the purposes of PFI/PPP delivery are subject to taxation as any other company.

Public Private Partnerships

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total amount spent has been on PFI/PPP projects postponed pending further consideration or stopped in the last 12 months.

Mr Tom McCabe: The only operational PPP project which has been stopped in the last 12 months is Inverness Airport. This project was bought out in January 2006 at a cost to the Scottish Executive of £27 million. In addition, as part of the termination compensation package, a tax liability of £2.857 million has been paid.

  A few PFI/PPP projects have been put to the market for procurement by public sector bodies and then re-started after re-scoping. I understand that in each case this action will have been to ensure that the projects provide up-dated specifications and also value for money, for example, by resulting in increased market competition. The Scottish Executive does not hold details of related costs incurred by the public sector bodies in these cases.

  The Scottish Executive has committed internal resources by way of policy and technical advice on all of these projects, however detailed costs are not recorded separately.

Rail Network

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has been made aware of by Transport Scotland or the Office of Rail Regulation regarding their discussions on track access charges on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail line.

Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland’s intention in discussions with the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) is to seek track access charges at a level such that the overall costs to operators of using the new route are no greater than the current costs of using the Forth Bridge route.

  The ORR has yet to determine the level of track access charges applicable to Freight Operating Companies using the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail line.

Recycling

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what increased capacity has been developed in the recyclate market in the last three to four years, through its funding for Remade and WRAP, in response to the increased amount of material being collected by local authorities and community groups.

Ross Finnie: WRAP’s Capital Grant Scheme has supported, or is in final negotiations to support, 42 projects in Scotland covering a range of materials including glass, paper, aggregates, garden and food waste, plastic and wood. It has also supported eight assets which will be used for recycling through it’s eQuip scheme (a lease guarantee scheme).

  Once fully operational, the combined processing capacity of these projects will be over 2 million tonnes a year. The total investment in these projects is over £33 million, of which the grant funding from WRAP will be around £8.4 million.

Recycling

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether recyclers based in Scotland are still dependent on recyclate markets based in the rest of the United Kingdom or abroad.

Ross Finnie: The location of markets for recycled material differs depending on the type of material. Organic material (such as garden or green waste) is very likely to undergo reprocessing in Scotland (to turn it into compost) as the heavy nature of the material makes it uneconomic for it to be transported large distances. Recycled wood and glass collected in Scotland is also likely to be reprocessed in Scotland as we have a number of reprocessors of these materials. Clearly, the final products from this reprocessing may be sent elsewhere in the United Kingdom or exported: for example, glass bottles made from recyclate may be used to contain Scotch whisky, for which the main markets are outwith Scotland.

  The markets for recycled paper, plastics and metals are international and so the products may well be processed elsewhere. However, Scotland does have one of Europe’s leading recyclers of plastics.

Recycling

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what further steps are being taken to ensure that recyclate markets are developed in Scotland and, in particular, what involvement Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have in such activities.

Ross Finnie: Scottish Enterprise provides a range of support to recycling. This support includes using recycled material and compost in construction and regeneration projects; signposting businesses to services offered by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and REMADE Scotland and the inclusion of waste management issues in training for all Business Gateway business advisers.

  In 2005-06, Scottish Enterprise helped around 300 businesses to achieve business benefits from environmental activities, in many cases diverting waste from landfill. Scottish Enterprise, along with the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, also support the Scottish Industrial Symbiosis Programme - a resources exchange for business that seeks to identify synergies and new business opportunities.

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise has a particular focus on social enterprise and, for example, over the last four years has supported 27 community led recycling projects through £228,000 of financial assistance.

  The Executive’s main work on developing markets for recyclate is through WRAP and REMADE. Their work includes capital grant and lease guarantee schemes for bodies reprocessing recyclate; research; encouraging the use of recycled material and compost in contracts and in manufacturing; helping to develop standards and quality protocols for recyclate and compost; monitoring the state of the markets and providing advice on ensuring the quality of recyclate and compost.

Renewable Energy

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what subsidy it provides to new wind farm developments and how this is calculated.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive does not provide grants to new onshore wind farm developments other than small scale community projects under the Scottish Communities and Householder Renewables Initiative. However, the Executive has agreed to provide £3 million to Talisman Energy and Scottish and Southern Energy to help construct an experimental offshore wind turbine demonstrator project in the Moray Firth.

Road Safety

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will commission a grade-separated junction at Laurencekirk in order to prevent accidents and reduce injuries and deaths.

Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2O-7713 on 29 September 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  Since the A90 was upgraded to dual carriageway we have continued investing in the route to enhance safety and maintain reliable journey times between Central Scotland and Aberdeen. We will continue to identify further improvements, particularly in the area of road safety to meet our objectives and this is an area which will be considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review process.

Roads

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money was spent on (a) public consultation and (b) preparatory works, including engineering, surveying, drilling and other associated costs, in respect of each of the original five route options which were proposed and consulted on in relation to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, prior to the announcement of the chosen route in December 2005.

Tavish Scott: The information is not available in the breakdown requested. The total spend on preparatory work on the project from 2003 until 1 December 2005 was approximately £10.8 million.

  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what public consultation was carried out in relation to the route chosen by the Minister for Transport for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route prior to the final decision being announced in December 2005.

Tavish Scott: An extensive informal public consultation exercise was carried out between 10 March 2005 and 29 April 2005 including a series of exhibitions at various locations throughout the North East of Scotland. Over 7,600 responses were received which helped inform the decision announced on 1 December 2005. The formal consultation on the proposals will follow the publication of the draft orders towards the end of the year.

  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether extra funding will be made available to local authorities in the north east to cover any additional costs that may be incurred through clearing roads in the event of bad weather this winter.

Tavish Scott: There are no plans to provide additional funding to local authorities in north-east Scotland for winter road maintenance as the Executive already supports local authorities’ net revenue expenditure on road maintenance and winter maintenance through the core local government finance settlement. This is agreed through the joint Scottish Executive/COSLA Distribution Committee of the Working Party on Local Government Finance. All local authorities receive their needs-based share of the road maintenance and winter maintenance Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) allocations and it is up to each local authority to decide how best to allocate these resources based on their local needs and priorities.

  The roads maintenance GAE for Scotland as a whole amounts to £195.3 million in the current financial year. Similarly the winter maintenance GAE is £64.9 million this year.

Scottish Executive

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what precedent there is of a serving civil servant being appointed as a government minister or law officer since 1970.

Mr Tom McCabe: I can only answer for ministerial appointments to the Scottish Executive since 1999.

  No serving civil servant has been appointed as a Scottish Executive minister or law officer since 1999. Elish Angiolini intimated her resignation from the Civil Service on 28 November 2001, the date when the First Minister proposed to the Parliament that she should be recommended for appointment as Solicitor General and her resignation took effect prior to her taking up her appointment on 5 December 2001.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much expenditure it has incurred on (a) advertising costs, (b) conference fees and (c) any other expenditure with Holyrood Communications in each year since 2002.

Mr Tom McCabe: Payments made to Holyrood Communications through the Scottish Executive Accounting System, which covers both the core Executive and many of its agencies, are as follows:

  

 
 2002-03
 2003-4
 2004-5
 2005-6


 Advertising
£0
£14,115
£7,516
£19,807


 Conference Fees
£9,802
£32,763
£46,700
£71,581


 Other
£6,575
£1,875
£64,112
£98,655


 Total
£16,377
£48,753
£118,328
£190,043

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid in (a) remuneration and (b) expenses to members of the Independent Budget Review Group up to 25 October 2006.

Mr Tom McCabe: A total of £124,629.60 has been paid in fees and £9,676.92 in expenses to members of the Budget Review Group up to 25 October 2006.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much expenditure has been incurred on the Independent Budget Review Group up to 25 October 2006, broken down by category.

Mr Tom McCabe: A total of £124,629.60 has been paid in fees and £9,676.92 in expenses to members of the Budget Review Group up to 25 October 2006.

  Time incurred by Scottish Executive staff involved in supporting the review process and for those others involved at various points in the review process is unquantifiable.

Sport

Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive when and by whom the city of Edinburgh’s sports pavilions were last audited to ensure that they are fit for purpose.

Patricia Ferguson: This is a matter for the owners of the sports pavilions.  Sportscotland provided support to the City of Edinburgh Council in the preparation of the Council’s Sports Pitch Strategy, which was completed in 2002 and part of this work considered the condition of the associated sports pavilions. Information on the condition of the sports pavilions should be obtained from the City of Edinburgh Council or the relevant pavilion owners direct.

Sport

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (Sol): To ask the Scottish Executive how many sports grounds have been lost in Glasgow since 1999.

Patricia Ferguson: The information is not held centrally.

Student Finance

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered reviewing the cut-off age for awarding student loans, in light of the recent legislation on age discrimination.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive constantly reviews its policies on student loans, in consultation with stakeholders, to ensure they remain in line with new legislation.

Transport

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has provided to TRANSform Scotland in each year since 1999-2000, broken down by category of expenditure.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive has provided funding to TRANSform Scotland in each year since 1999-2000 as follows:

  

Year
Funding


2004-05
£6,250


2005-06
£25,000


2006-07
£25,000



  The funding has been granted under the terms of Section 70 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 towards the organisation’s core staffing costs.

Transport

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding its agencies have provided to TRANSform Scotland in each year since 1999-2000, broken down by category of expenditure.

Tavish Scott: Executive agencies of the Scottish Executive have not provided any funding to TRANSform Scotland since 1999-2000.

Welfare

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28041 by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 September 2006, what mechanisms are in place to allow appropriate dialogue to take place between the Executive and Whitehall departments if there were evidence of differences in the application of benefits and services which disadvantage people in Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are a number of mechanisms in place to allow appropriate dialogue to take place between the Executive and Whitehall departments if there were evidence of differences in the application of benefits and service which disadvantage people in Scotland. These include are a DWP liaison group in Scotland, a dedicated liaison point between the Executive and DWP (which allows for day-to-day dialogue as and when required), and Executive attendance at the DWP Annual Forums.

Welfare

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28041 by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 September 2006, whether the mechanisms in place to allow dialogue have ever been used and, if so, whether it will provide a breakdown of such usage.

Malcolm Chisholm: The mechanisms in place to allow dialogue are used frequently. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of such usage as contact is so regular and is not separately recorded, being responsive to issues as they arise. The answer to question S2W-29226 on 7 November 2006, gives some examples of the mechanisms that are in place for effecting such dialogue.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Welfare

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28041 by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 September 2006, to whom within the Executive any evidence of differences in the application of benefits and services which disadvantage people in Scotland should be addressed.

Malcolm Chisholm: Any evidence of differences in the application of benefits and services which disadvantage people in Scotland should be addressed to the Minister for Communities. His department has overall responsibility for the co-ordination of liaison between the Department for Work and Pensions and the Scottish Executive.